Physical Therapy Professionals Get Effective Primitive Reflex Integration Tools

Greetings PTs and PTAs,

In the Brain and Sensory Foundations training courses, we focus on neurodevelopmental movements. Neurodevelopmental movements are the innate developmental, rhythmic, primitive reflex, and postural reflex movements of early infancy and childhood. Physical Therapists utilize these neurodevelopmental movements for assessment and intervention for patients of all ages to improve balance, posture, muscle strength, stamina, coordination, and overall function.

Incomplete primitive reflex development is associated with the following physical challenges:

• Balance deficits (Bob et al., 2021; Niklasson, et al., 2017; Wahlberg & Ireland, 2005)
• Coordination issues (Gieysztor et al., 2020; Grzywniak, 2017; Niklasson et al., 2017)
• Gross motor deficits (Preedy et al., 2022; Pecuch et al., 2021; Gieysztor et al., 2018)
• Fine motor deficits (Brown, 2010)
• Abnormal walking gait (Gieysztor et al. 2020)
• Visual motor skills deficits (Domingo-Sanz, 2022; Andrich et al., 2018; Gonzales et al., 2008; McPhillips et al., 2000)

Using Neurodevelopmental Movements Can Help Improve Physical Skills

"…developmental movements (i.e. those that mimic the movements that the child should have done as a baby) are essential in inhibiting primitive reflexes and, in turn, in allowing children to reach their physical development potential" (Preedy, et al., 2022, p. 290).

The following research supports what PT professionals are seeing: Using innate rhythmic movements and primitive reflex integration appears to help with the following physical challenges:

• Fine motor skills (Brown, 2010)
• Visual motor skills (Domingo-Sanz, 2022; Andrich et al., 2018; Gonzales et al., 2008; McPhillips et al., 2000)
• Balance (Grzywniak, 2017; Niklasson et al., 2017; Wahlberg & Ireland, 2005)
• Coordination (Grzywniak, 2017; Niklasson et al., 2017)
• Motor skills (Pecuch, et al., 2021)

 "Children with increased reflex activity presented a lower level of motor efficiency…[with] the decrease in the level of reflex activity, the motor skills of children improved." (Pecuch, et al., 2021, p.1).

The Brain and Sensory Foundations CEU course offers PTs and PTAs a variety of intervention strategies and a range of appropriate tools for all ages.

 See examples of case studies from PT professionals using the Brain and Sensory Foundations tools.

This 30-month old girl was referred to PT because her left foot was turning in. After 8 sessions of movements from the Brain and Sensory Foundations program, her foot no longer turned in and she was able to jump, climb stairs, and ride a bike! Read the full case study showing how rhythmic movements help with gross motor development.

This 12-year-old girl with spastic quadraparetic Cerebral Palsy made huge improvements in her gait trainer, standing with her head more in midline without external supports. Read more about how movements from the Brain and Sensory Foundations course help with balance and body control. Easier Wheelchair Transitions and Huge Gait Trainer Improvements for 12-Year-Old with CP.

After just 4 weeks of rhythmic movements and primitive reflex integration, this delayed 20-month-old toddler went from only scooting on her bottom to walking! See how rhythmic movements can help with gross motors skills!

This case study walks you through 6 sessions of physical therapy using rhythmic movements and primitive reflex integration to address this baby's torticollis, lack of headrighting, and absent parachute reflex. After those 6 sessions, headrighting and parachute reflexes are present, and the prognosis is excellent for full resolution of late-stage torticollis!

Here are more case studies by PTs and PTAs using rhythmic movements and primitive reflex integration to help their clients.

What physical therapists say about the Brain and Sensory Foundations continuing education course in primitive reflex integration:

 "As a pediatric PT, this course has really opened my eyes and made my observation techniques, evaluation, and treatment plans so much more effective and individualized.”
Linda Ferraro, MSPT

"I have seen more progress in my medically fragile kids with these movements than anything else I have ever done professionally."
Brittany Hensley, PT, DPT

"I have been a PT for over 20 years and have specialized training in many modalities. Working with rhythmic movements and reflex integration has revolutionized my practice. I have seen wonderful results with my adult orthopedic clients."
Marion Klein, PT

Reflex integration, including innate rhythmic movement is, “. . . the most valuable thing I have ever learned in my entire career.”
Melody Edwards, PT
In this video, Melody describes 3 case studies involving children with torticollis, developmental delay, and cerebral palsy (11 minutes).
Enjoy this amazing video!

The combination of tools in the Brain and Sensory Foundations courses work synergisticly to effectively support physical activity, strength, and coordination. Get tools for transformation and help your clients thrive.

Physical therapy professionals in qualifying USA states earn CEUs for Brain and Sensory Foundations, First Level (18 CEUs) and Second Level (13 CEUs) courses

References

Andrich, P., Shihada, M. B., Vinci, M. K., Wrenhaven, S. L., & Goodman, G. D. (2018). Statistical relationships between visual skill deficits and retained primitive reflexes in children. Optometry & Visual Performance, 6(3).

Bob, P., Konicarova, J., & Raboch, J. (2021). Disinhibition of primitive reflexes in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder: Insight into specific mechanisms in girls and boys. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12.

Brown, C. G. (2010). Improving fine motor skills in young children: An intervention study. Educational Psychology in Practice, 269- 279.

Domingo-Sanz, V. A. (2022). Inhibition of Primitive Reflexes and Its Relationship with Visual Projection in Children and Adolescents. Optometry & Visual Performance, 10(4).

Gieysztor, E., Pecuch, A., Kowal, M., Borowicz, W., & Paprocka-Borowicz, M. (2020). Pelvic symmetry is influenced by asymmetrical tonic neck reflex during young children’s gait. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(13), 4759.

Gieysztor, E. Z., Choińska, A., & Paprocka-Borowicz, M. (2018). Persistence of primitive reflexes and associated motor problems in healthy preschool children. Archives of Medical Science, 14(1), 167-173.

Gonzalez, S. R., Ciuffreda, K., Hernandez, L. C., Escalante, J. B. (2008). The correlation between primitive reflexes and saccadic eye movements in 5th grade children with teacher-reported reading problems. Optometry and Vision Development, 39(3), 140-145.

Grzywniak, C. (2017). Integration exercise programme for children with learning difficulties who have preserved vestigial primitive reflexes. Acta Neuropsychologica, 15, 241-256.

Niklasson, M., Norlander, T., Niklasson, I., & Rasmussen, P. (2017). Catching-up: Children with developmental coordination disorder compared to healthy children before and after sensorimotor therapy. PloS One, 12(10).

Pecuch, A., Gieysztor, E., Wolańska, E., Telenga, M., & Paprocka-Borowicz, M. (2021). Primitive reflex activity in relation to motor skills in healthy preschool children. Brain Sciences, 11(8), 967.

Preedy, P., Duncombe, R., & Gorely, T. (2022). Physical development in the early years: The impact of a daily movement programme on young children’s physical development. Education 3-13, 50(3), 289-303.

Walhberg, T., & Ireland, D. (2005). Can replicating primary reflex movements improve reading ability? Optometry & Vision Development, 36(2).